Ancient city.

CAMBRIDGE, which takes its name from the Cam or Grant, and the bridge over it; (for we often find it called in history, both Cambridge, and Grantbridge,) is situate in 57 degrees north latitude, and 52 miles north of London. That it was antiently a large and populous city, and a well fortified station of the Romans, is well attested. It once extended from the castle of Grandchester, or Grantchester, (i. e. a grand city) now a small village two miles south-west of the town, to the castle at Chesterton, 3 miles in length along the west of the Cam. There is nothing, however, remaining of that antient city, except the village of Grantchester, and the ruins of St. Giles and St. Peter, now part of modern Cambridge, being the two extremities of it. Under the same meridian, or a very few minutes to the east of it, was originally a Roman station, situate on an elevated ground on the N.W. side of the river Cam. It is of an irregular parallelogrammic figure, containing near 30 acres, surrounded on all sides with a deep intrenchment, great part of which is yet remaining, particularly towards the south-west side, and in the ground behind St. Mary Magdalen college.

This town was divided into 4 parts by 2 streets crossing each other at right angles.